Cougars to host Billport tonight

It's been one full year since the Hazleton Area football Cougars have tasted victory.

One year ago this week, the Cougars travelled to Williamsport and handed the Millionaires a 48-25 setback in Week 4. Since then, Hazleton Area has dropped nine consecutive games, including three to start the 2013 season.

As far as Jim Drumheller is concerned, it's time for the streak to come to an end.

"It's been too long," the third-year head coach said. "It's there for the taking. We don't want to be saying afterward 'how did another one get away?' This team needs a win so bad to get on the other side."

The Cougars (0-3) are coming off a 28-7 defeat at Delaware Valley, a game in which the Cougars came out flat and could never get into a rhythm.

"I can't put my finger on it, whether it was the long trip or what, but they played with the least amount of fire and enthusiasm that we have had all season," Drumheller said. "We have to forget about last week, and bring that same energy that we had in our opener against Scranton. We had a good week of practice, and we've always stressed that you play like you practice."

The Cougars will do so without their starting quarterback. Julius Ward missed three-quarters of last week's game due to an illness, and has still not been cleared to play. That means junior Ryan Heller will get his second consecutive start under center.

"Julius hasn't been cleared to play, so we're going with Ryan. He took the snaps with the first team all week in practice," noted Drumheller.

Heller completed 11 of 21 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown last week, and did not throw an interception.

"We know he can throw the football," the Cougar coach said. "He was very well composed in his first varsity game. He did a very good job running the offense."

The Cougars will look to get continued production from their "Big Four" in running backs Zach Zukoski (31-122 rushing, TD) and Nick George (14-80), and wideouts Jeff Ochs (18-201, TD) and Gavin Kopczynskie (6-90). Zukoski also has six catches for 79 yards, including a 40-yard TD catch last week, and has returned a kickoff for a touchdown this season.

Their primary objective tonight will be slowing down senior running back Isaac Foust, who leads the Millionaires in rushing (59-205, 2 TDs) this season. Nearly all of those yards (186) came in a season-opening, 21-14 win over Central Mountain.

"Williamsport has a lot of athletes. They bring a lot of speed onto the field," Drumheller said. "Foust is second in the conference in rushing, and they'll give it to him 25-30 times a game."

The Millionaires, who have since been shut out by Mifflin County (25-0) and Abington Heights (33-0), have settled on senior Dale Berkheimer at quarterback after using Jerah Reeves there as well. Berkheimer is 17-for-35 for 121 yards, but the Millionaires have yet to throw a touchdown pass in three games.

Tyler Gardner (6-3, 210), a tight end and defensive end, and defensive tackle Terrell Pittinger (6-3, 220) are also players that concern Drumheller and the Cougars. Tajmir Williams is the Millionaires' leading receiver with seven catches.

Aside from Ward, Drumheller said the Cougars are the healthiest they've been since they broke camp in late August. Running back/defensive back E.J. McCallum, who has missed all but a few snaps in the opener with a turf toe, is expected to be back and play on both sides of the ball and on special teams.

Drumheller said the only thing left to do is come out and play their best game and put the year-long streak to an end.

"I told them you only have so many Friday nights to play, and you're only guaranteed 10," he said. "It's going to be a beautiful night for a game, and they have the chance to show in front of the fans, to themselves and to their families what kind of players they are.

"We're going to stick with what we've been working on so far. It's been there, it's just a matter of putting all three phases of the game together."

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Harman-Geist Memorial Field.

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